Unclear return timeline for Tiger Woods after undergoing back surgery.

Another operation has been performed on Tiger Woods, this time targeting his lower back.

According to Woods’ social media accounts, the golfer underwent microdecompression surgery of his lumbar spine for nerve impingement at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach on Friday. The 15-time major winner’s visit was announced through his official social media accounts.

Woods stated, “I’m optimistic that the surgery was a success and will provide relief from the back spasms and pain I endured during much of 2024. It’s my goal to fully recover through rehabilitation so that I can resume normal activities like playing golf.”

It is unclear how this will impact Woods’ upcoming events such as the Hero World Challenge, PNC Championship, and his TGL virtual simulation league scheduled for early 2025.

During the summer, an exemption was approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board that grants Woods entry into all signature events. However, his frequency of play remains uncertain as he only participated in five tournaments this year with three missed cuts and a withdrawal during the second round of his Genesis Invitational. Despite winning the 2019 Masters, Woods has not placed within top 20 at major events since then and withdrew or failed to make cuts in six out of eight recent appearances. He rarely competes which accounts for him participating in official four-round games merely thrice over four seasons; excepting majors, silly-season contests or The Genesis Invitational on previous occasions including summertime last year when he played at a non-major event.

Woods’ recent back surgery marks his sixth publicized procedure, with the previous one dating back to 2021. In 2023, he was absent for much of the season due to a subtalar fusion operation aimed at resolving post-traumatic arthritis stemming from injuries incurred in a car crash that same year. Woods will turn 49 this December.